Labour Looks To U.S. For H-Bombs

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 13

Labour Looks To U.S. For H-Bombs

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 22. The British Labour Party’s far-reaching foreign policy and defence statement, issued today, for the first time places the responsibility of providing H-bombs for Western defence completely on the United States.

But it does not in any way contemplate unilateral British renunciation of nuclear weapons—for which a big section of the party has been pressing—or unilateral disarmament measures by Britain, political sources pointed out.

The new manifesto is aimed at wiping out a long-standing partv division on H-bomb policy and Socialist anxiety over the Government’s decision to scrap the Blue Streak missile as a principal deterrent.

It was produced in the teeth of determined anti-bomb opposition from powerful elements on the trade union side of the movement, headed by Mr Frank Cousins, secretary of the 1,250.000strong Transport and General Workers’ Union.

Because of last-minute clashes between the anti-bomb elements and the official leaders round the leader of the party, Mr Hugh Gaitskell, it still awaits the blessing of the chiefs of the Trades Union Congress, who, at the last minute today, shocked the Labour Party by deferring a verdict on it until July 1. Political sources said that one of the biggest changes in policy was the declaration that in future “the provision of the thermonuclear deterrent must be left to the United States.” Hitherto, the Labour high command has been committed to British manufacture of the H-bomb. Another vital element now emphasised in Labour policy is the insistence on the Atlantic Pact having effective control over nuclear weapons.

The policy also opposed German possession of nuclear weapons. The document, in four important aspects, follows the old policy These are:

First priority must be given to a nuclear test ban agreement Disarmament under effective

supervision. Admission of Communist China to the United Nations. Opposition to Thor missile bases in Britain

Labour circles were tonight confident that in spite of today’s T.U.C. shock, the trade union leaders would eventually back the Gaitskell manifesto

But this will not necessarily take Mr Gaitskell far towards ending the deep Socialist divisions on H-bomb policy, which at the moment present a serious challenge to his authority as party leader.

Some politicians, foreseeing the possibility of defeat for the official policy, are asking whether Mr Gaitskell, in such event, could survive long in the leadership.